WIZZO - Most Severe Crisis (Album Review)

Date Released: June 30th 2022. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD

Most Severe Crisis: Tracklisting

1.Hollow Earth 04:13

2.Most Severe Crisis 04:49

3.Sacrificial Lamp 04:47

4.Is What Is 05:11

5.End Is Nigh 05:06

6.Wizard's Sleeve 06:23

7.Godless Interval 06:09

Members

Quentin Poynter: Vocals, Guitars, Synths

RB Green: Guitars

Kyle Tuggle: Bass Towers

Garry Naples: Drums

Anthony Cwan: Vocals (Hollow Earth, Sacrificial Lamp, Wizard’s Sleeve)

Review

Retro Stoner Metal Riffsters WIZZO new album Most Severe Crisis is upon us all and it’s quite a different affair to their 2020 self-titled release. As WIZZO focus more upon the Prog Rock aspect of their sound whilst still retaining their catchy Psych Stoner Rock vibe that moves into areas of Classic Rock, Alt Rock and Hard Rock passages. The album does have an eerie Relapse Records sound within the first few tracks of Hollow, Most Severe Crisis and Sacrificial Lamp. 

The music is dense and very multi-layered with WIZZO moving between modern day grooves and classic Alt Rock themes with the melodic vocals from Quentin and guest vocals from Anthony on three of the album's tracks. I can hear traces of Mastodon on certain aspects of this album when the progressive guitars kick in with a Doom Rock appetite that sees WIZZO playing some of the finer aspects of the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene.

The album also has a very cool sounding and mature “POP” vibe that more famous Metal Bands have used lately. The lyrics are catchy and easy to remember so the listener can sing along to their heart's content. The spiky soundbytes and trippy effects work extremely well especially on Most Severe Crisis which is one of the album's standout tracks.

There’s a lot of different musical themes and genres to enjoy this album. The album perhaps runs out of steam towards the end but the overall journey is superb on songs such as: Is What Is, End Is Nigh and Wizard’s Sleeve.

Another aspect of the album I admire greatly is the grunge based vibes of the album that has a certain Alice In Chains quality to it all on the later stages of the album.

Most Severe Crisis is another winning album from WIZZO with fabulous production values and these guys deserve to be signed to one of the record labels within the underground scene. Maybe, I did enjoy their debut album a little bit more but this album is still a first rate musical adventure that solidifies WIZZO as one of the best upcoming bands within the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

WIZZO - S/T (Album Review)

Release date: October 23rd 2020. Label: Self Released. Format: DD/CD 

WIZZO – S/T – Tracklisting

1.Culling 04:54
2.Electric Lettuce 04:03
3.Vanifesto 05:21
4.Into Thin Air 05:38
5.Plier 05:29
6.Atomahawk 05:54
7.Healer 04:58
8.Years Away 05:21
9.Colorless 04:01
10.Mudbone 08:41
11.The Great Filter (Reprise) 01:42

Members

Quentin Poynter: Vox, Guitar, Keys
RB Green: Guitar, Backing Vox
Kyle Tuggle: Bass
Garry Naples: Drums

Review

I expected WIZZO’s debut full length album to be some sort of 70’s Retro Rock Band such as KADAVAR but I was wrong on all counts with that assumption. Maybe it’s the band’s name WIZZO. It reminds myself of a 70s Hard Rock/Psych/Stoner Rock Band. Though the famous saying goes - “Never Judge A Book By It’s Cover”.

When I first heard the opening riffs on first song – Culling – that I was completely wrong. As WIZZO play a harsh blend of Sludge Metal, Psych Rock, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Groove Metal and even Fuzz Rock. Though you get more of that good stuff alter. Culling is a great style of Sludge Metal, Doom Metal and Classic Hard Rock with the band finding the time to play some Classic Twin Style Guitars straight from the 1980s. The vocals are from the more extreme side of Heavy Metal with punishing Death based growls.

You think you have WIZZO all figured out from the opening song. NOPE. Not at all. WIZZO play on your expectations throughout this album as the collection of songs written for this album go through the last 50 years of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal but with the Modern Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs being the main dominant force. WIZZO show their love for all things 70s and 80s Classic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal whilst showing their affection for more modern day sounds.

Second song – Electric Lettuce – feels like it’s from a different band. As it’s a completely style. The song is a mixture of riff worship from bands such as Van Halen and The Sword. Maybe, I’m losing my grip on reality but that’s what I took away from this song. The popular catchphrase or question the kids are using these days is – DOES THIS DOOM!!! - On this evidence, I have to say it must definitely does with it’s Progressive Doom Riffs and Melodic Hard Rock grooves.

I would love to do a more in-depth review of this album but I would be here forever explaining the different musical changes and genre-switching WIZZO adapt for this album. This is a very strange album to listen to at first and some folks could easily lose their way. However, there is something cool and addictive about it all.

WIZZO are a band who rip up the rule book of heavy music and decide to write their own rules as they see fit. The wealth of creativity appearing throughout this record is first-rate and the lyrics are equally as good as the music WIZZO perform on this album.

The vocals at first are a mixed bag with the many different vocal styles and harmonies that feature on this album. Though, you just need to listen to the album a couple of times to fully understand everything going on with the album.

WIZZO debut album is a superbly entertaining album and one that shows a band with a unique voice and vision that makes me want to see these guys perform live if they ever make it over to the UK once this damn pandemic is finally over.

Until then, embrace the weirdness and brilliance of WIZZO in all it’s glory.

Words by Steve Howe

Links: 

Official | Facebook | BandCamp